Sent in Love

Jesus: Mission and Glory: New Purpose  PART V
Dr. Timothy Keller (MP3)
09 October 2016

John 13: 1-5
1It was just before the Passover Festival.  Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Isacriot, to betray Jesus.  3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

FOOT WASHING - WHO JESUS IS
--Lowest slaves typically washed feet.
--Menial and offensive task.
--Juxtaposition of His high status with humble behavior.
--Jesus is equal with the Father.
--Foot washing caps the behavior that highlights/contradicts the his lofty claim.
--Lofty claimed mixed with "lowly" behavior
--Rational conclusion that he is the Son of God.
--Emotional conclusion is that he is Beautiful.

FOOT WASHING - POWER
--v.1; begins and ends with Love.
--His infallible love against the power of forces against him in spite of his impending death.
--Thinks of others in the face of impending agony.
--Loves us in spite of unworthiness of recipients. (v.2)
--He's washing the feet of someone who will get him killed and one that will deny Him.
--All the guests will hurt them terribly and yet he humbles himself before them.
--Nothing can dislodge his love for us.
--He loves us, not because we are great, but because He is great.

FOOT WASHING - PATTERN OF LIFE FOR US
--Self giving is the ultimate reality or we will be on our way to self-absorption.
--Be loving and kind to people that oppose you.
--Jesus has a different model of greatness than the world gives us.
--As you grow older, hopefully a realization comes on that nothing, but God, will satisfy us.
--His love is crucial to our joy.